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CA&ES Currents Newsletter

October 18, 1999

Sustainable Garden DedicationThe Western Center for Urban Forest Research and Education (WCUFRE), located in the Department of Environmental Horticulture, will dedicate its Sustainable Garden on Wednesday, October 20, 1999, at noon. Dedication speakers include Fred Teichert, executive director of the Teichert Foundation and Mary Nichols, secretary of the California Resources Agency. The garden is designed to function like a mini watershed that retains and recycles storm water, shades the ground and cleans the air. It will be dedicated and demonstrated amid a simulated rainstorm. According to Greg McPherson, WCUFRE research scientist, one of the biggest present-day ecological challenges is the need to make our towns and cities more efficient in their use of natural resources. In many urban areas, the natural cycles of water, energy and material are disrupted, resulting in air and water pollution, flooding, urban "heat islands" and overflowing landfills. The sustainable garden was designed to use water runoff from nearby roofs for irrigation and to make use of drought-tolerant plants and a solar-powered irrigation pump. Light-colored and permeable paving reduces runoff and decreases heat absorption. Strategic tree planting saves energy, and recycled materials are used when possible. The garden will serve as an outdoor laboratory for students and faculty to learn more about effective multipurpose solutions to regulate the flow of water, energy and materials. The garden was installed by UC Davis students, faculty and staff and designed by a group of UC Davis landscape architecture students.

Design Gallery Exhibitions"VISAGE: The International Face" Through October 29, 1999 Guest Curator: Dolph Gotelli Professor Dolph Gotelli, Department of Environmental Design, has brought together a variety of objects from around the world that highlight or focus on the face. Unusual forms - such as ceramic jugs, porcelain pitchers, papier mache, Halloween pumpkins, Easter candy, composition toys, Victorian paper scraps, textiles and wooden sculptures - make up the exhibition.

"The Great Central Valley" ExhibitionThe Haggin Museum in Stockton will open "Picturing California's Other Landscape: The Great Central Valley," a special art and history exhibition on Sunday, October 17, 1999. The exhibit, which takes a look at the landscape of one of California's fastest growing regions, explores the many ways that the Central Valley has been depicted over the last 150 years. It runs through December 31. Guest Curator Heath Schenker, associate professor in the Landscape Architecture Program of the Department of Environmental Design, selected more than 100 works by more than 65 visual artists for display/ Works include paintings, photographs, commercial images and maps. The California Historical Society, Crocker Art Museum, the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco, Kern County Museum and Oakland Museum of California are among major institutions loaning key works for the exhibition. Other paintings and photographs will be on loan from galleries, private collectors and artists. A 200-page catalog titled "Picturing California's Other Landscape: The Great Central Valley" accompanies the exhibition. Edited by Schenker, it features four essays and stunning reproductions of works from the exhibition, plus other images of the Great Central Valley.

Fiber Exhibition and LectureThe fiber work of Karen Hampton, a second-year MFA student in the Design Program, is featured through October 29, 1999, in an exhibition titled "Mementos - Signs and Symbols from a Time Long Gone" at the Third Street Grind in Oakland. She made a 2,300-mile trip to discover the historical roots of African American textile artisans from between the year 1750 and 1830. She will present a free, brown-bag lecture about her adventures at 12 noon, Thursday, October 21, in 150 Walker Hall. The talk, titled "Unveiling the Mask," is open to the public.

Randy Southard Named Interim Associate DeanProfessor Randal J. Southard, Department of Land, Air & Water Resources, has been named interim associate dean, Division of Environmental Sciences, for the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. According to Dean Neal Van Alfen, there is a national search underway to fill the position. Southard came to UC Davis in 1983. A professor of soils, his area of research has been in soil genesis, morphology and classification; soil-geomorphic relations; and soil mineralogy. Recent research has centered on mineralogy of dust from agricultural cultivation practices and mineralogy of dust particles in human and horse lungs. "We're trying to understand the extent to which soil minerals in dust generated by ag practices affect air quality and to determine the effects of those airborne soil minerals on human health," he said. Southard has served as vice-chair, soils and biogeochemistry, in the Department of Land, Air & Water Resources, the ERS Curriculum Review Committee, the Center for Soil Sustainability Committee and as a member of the Soil Science Graduate Group. At a college-wide level, he has served on the Steering Committee for Academic and Strategic Planning, the Plant and Environmental Sciences Building Committee and the Undergraduate Program Review Committee. Southard also has been involved in numerous campus-wide committees. . Asked to comment on his vision for the Division of Environmental Sciences, he said: "Given the projected growth in the next few years, the UC Davis campus has a real opportunity to strengthen its position as the premier UC campus in environmental sciences. The campus initiative on water and watersheds addresses the essence of California's quality of life and must be a high priority. The Division of Environmental Sciences will play a key role in cross-campus planning on this initiative and on other new initiatives in the college and on campus

Robert Webster Receives Rice Industry AwardProfessor Robert K. Webster, Department of Plant Pathology, was presented the 1999 California Rice Industry Award during the annual California Rice Field Day. He was recognized for outstanding and distinguished service and contributions to the California rice industry. At the award ceremony, James Erdman, Rice Experiment Station director and Colusa County rice producer, commented on Webster's dedication to basic research and its application to solving real problems in growers' rice fields. "We honor Dr. Webster today because he has given time and effort in solving rice disease problems. His footprints are in most California rice fields." Webster previously served as chair of the Department of Plant Pathology and interim dean of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. He currently is assistant director of programs for the Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR). He is a Fellow of the American Phytopathological Society.

Alan Hastings Elected Society PresidentProfessor Alan Hastings, Department of Environmental Science & Policy, was elected president of the Society for Mathematical Biology and will serve through 2001. The organization is the world's major society concerned with using mathematics to understand biological problems.

"Bottomless Bowls of Beans" a Success!Over 60 people showed up for the first of three events hosted by the Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering and the Antique Mechanics Club for freshman-through-Ph.D. students. "Bottomless Bowls of Beans" was an opportunity for students to meet other students, ask questions about classes and instructors and talk about career goals. Students met in the "old town square" of the club's headquarters near UCD Airport. They enjoyed free beverages and bottomless bowls of beans with weenies. They had the opportunity to drive the p-scale tractor designed by department students and vintage tractors from the 1920s and 1930s. Participants enjoyed music, card games and videos. The crowd didn't clear out until 12:30 a.m. The next get-together is billed as "Marshmallow Madness."

Task Force to Address Pierce's DiseasePresident Richard C. Atkinson announced the appointment of a task force to mobilize and focus the scientific, technical and information outreach expertise of UC to help growers combat Pierce's disease of grapevines. The UC Pierce's Disease Research and Emergency Response Task Force, chaired by vice president-agriculture and natural resources W.R. Gomes, will develop a science-based strategy and set of research priorities to guide the university's short- and long-term studies for managing Pierce's disease. The task force also will report on efforts by UC to extend technical assistance to vineyard owners in wine grape-growing regions where the disease is a problem. Pierce's disease is caused by Xylella fastidiosa, a bacterium that kills grapevines by blocking their water transport tissue. A vine infected with Pierce's disease usually dies within two years and produces no crop. X. fastidiosa is spread by insects known as sharpshooters. Other UC Davis members of the task force are: Neal Van Alfen, dean, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Bruce Kirkpatrick, associate professor, Department of Plant Pathology; Robert Webster, professor, Department of Plant Pathology, and statewide project director for the UC Viticulture Consortium Research Program and UC California Competitive Grant Program for Research on Viticulture and Enology; M. Andrew Walker, associate professor, Department of Viticulture & Enology

Dairy Waste Management: A Partnership AgreementThe California Dairy Quality Assurance Program partnership agreement formalizes a cooperative agreement between the California Dairy Quality Assurance Program (CDQAP), University of California Cooperative Extension, California Department of Food and Agriculture, California Environmental Protection Agency and State Water Resources Control Board, California Resources Agency and Department of Fish and Game, and three organizations within U.S. Department of Agriculture: Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Farm Services Agency, and Region 9 of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The purpose of the partnership agreement is to support the environmental stewardship component of the CDQAP as a voluntary, cooperative government and industry education/facility evaluation program. The program's objective is to assist California dairy producers in meeting all federal, state, regional and local requirements relating to manure and nutrient management. The program's ultimate goal is to help ensure a healthful environment for the people and wildlife of the state of California. The program core components include continuing education workshops for producers, the creation of Environmental Stewardship Farm Management Plans tailored to each dairy and on-site evaluation by a third party. Each of the participating state and federal agencies will support the partnership to the extent that it does not conflict with any agency's statutory and regulatory obligations. The parties to the Partnership Agreement recognize their related interests and, by mutual agreement, will create a framework to enhance public and environmental health in the state of California. Industry organizations supporting this agreement include: California Dairy Research Foundation, California Farm Bureau Federation, California Manufacturing Milk Advisory Board, California Milk Advisory Board, Milk Producers Council and Western United Dairymen. Technical support, including education and training, is provided by UC Davis.

Development HighlightMark Friedman, developer of Davis Commons, made a gift of land and improvements to the UC Davis Arboretum through his company, Fulcrum Davis LLC. The land, located at the eastern end of the Arboretum, will house a demonstration garden. The gift is valued at $290,000. Friedman is a member of the UC Davis Foundation Board of Trustees.

CA&ES Recognition Award RecipientsDean's Office Susan Fishleder - for support of the process to revise the college academic plan including SCASP's year-long activity and retreats Julie Beal - for coordination of academic personnel process during a period of very heavy workload with reduced staff Lori Fulton - for service and demonstrated efficiency in providing support to many staff in the office during and after the change to Windows NT server and implementation of MS Outlook Sharon Berg - for outstanding service and interpersonal practices, including undergraduate recruitment, Preview Day and visitors from China and Armenia. Susan Kancir - for contribution to the college mission and goals through her essential role in the "Biology of Animal Stress" international conference Shirley Jordan - for service to students and faculty and demonstrated efficiency by improvements to the commencement- planning process Sharon Lynch - for development of new programs such as the Student Leadership Program and College Apparel Program Amy Strayer - for service to students by developing workshops for the Re-Entry Student Network and the Career Management Academy; contributions as a diversity facilitator; advisor to the Prytanean Honor Society Jack Holmes - for service in supporting growing computer needs in the office, both in size and complexity; in particular, the conversion to a new network server and its accompanying software Margarita Camarena and Rhoda McKnight - for their special major project of documenting 90 years of CA&ES history in pictures and narrative CeCe Krek, Ken Paulson and Steve Pesis - for service to CA&ES departments by automating the annual process of AD419 report preparation Patti Bond and Joel Shriver - for assuming duties in the Academic Advising Center on short notice during a very busy time of the year; improving processes in this area Stefanie Butzke and Susan Fishleder - for assisting with the "Biology of Animal Stress" conference by guiding a tour through San Francisco Margarita Camarena, Jack Holmes and Rhoda McKnight - for development and revision of the college Web site, including establishment of standards for departments and programs related to the college Department of Vegetable Crops All eligible staff received nominations for excellent service to the department. Peggy Aguilar, Anne Baker, Jane Case, Clyde Clark, Peetambar Dahal, Steve Edberg, Earlene Ford, Craig Giannini, David Harris, Barbara Horigan, Jim Jackson, Rob Kerner, Guy Kyser, Cheryl Lambert, Karen McVarish, Rogelio Montoya, Xunli Nie, Oswaldo Ochoa, Donna Papin, Garry Pearson, Herb Phillips, Frank Rodriquez, Ernie Roncoroni, John Roncoroni, Kitty Schlosser, Nancy Scybert and Kathy Shen Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology Marjie Kirkman Iversen, Della Nunes, Eric Paulovich and Peggy Davis - for outstanding team work; Ron Yoshiyama - for contributions to fisheries research and outreach throughout California; Ron Cole - for outstanding contributions as WFCB Museum curator and, in particular, for attention to development of the WFCB Experimental Ecosystem Department of Environmental Toxicology Carol Barnes - in appreciation of her organizational impact, beyond minimal job requirements; Rebecca Morrison - in appreciation of outstanding contributions in regards to Picnic Day, NSF grant and Friends Day; Sandy Ogletree - in appreciation of resource management, changes resulting in significant resource savings; Bronson Hung - in appreciation of improved productivity and performance, principles of teamwork and organizational impact; Paul Kuzmicky - in appreciation of exceeding duties and responsibilities; Margaret Reiff - for commitment and loyalty to IR-4, organizational skills and hard work during a time of reduced staff; Scott Wetzlich - in appreciation of consistent ability to produce work of the highest quality Food Science & Technology Eva Clark - for superior efforts in support of CIFAR (California Institute of Food and Agricultural Research) activities Judy DeStefano - for support of numerous departmental activities, including work with our Web page and assistance with teaching materials Bruce Frost - for efforts and a consistently friendly, positive attitude in support of the department's teaching, research, and outreach missions Judy Howard - for efforts in support of a variety of departmental activities, particularly Web sites, scanning and other computer activities Karen Hunter - for efforts in support of the graduate program, as well as foreign scholars and visitors Clara Robison - for consistently superior contributions to the department including teaching activities and faculty merits and promotions Teri Wolcott- for effective administrative abilities and support of the objectives and goals of the department Department of Land, Air & Water Resources Cynthis A. Bergens - for initiative, solid analytical planning and clear communication with other departments, faculty and staff while coordinating the move of the greenhouses and preparing for future greenhouse uses; for accurate and exceptional understanding and support of scientific research and teaching needs; for being a stalwart safety advocate; for superb client service; for her "can do" attitude and commitment to excellence. Akin Orhun - for outstanding technical client service to LAWR; for effectively exploiting the available technology to serve the computer network needs effectively; for innovative ideas that resulted in instructional undergraduate computing funds; for instructing and encouraging all computer users to learn more; for dedication to developing and maintaining functional and efficient computer support for the department. Douglas Peters - for innovative research analysis, initiative, scientific inquiry and problem solving that resulted in a new research tool that allows many rapid measurements of plant canopy under a wide range of conditions using a fraction of the time required by the light bar procedure. Kent Y. Kaita - for superb project management while clearing the Veihmeyer site, efficiently reorganizing the old and new LAWR storage facilities and assisting with the greenhouse moves; for thoughtful analysis and good judgment regarding where surplus items could be useful; for finding multiple ways to save money while tackling this project; for creative, gracious and successful problem solving with the staff, faculty and various committees involved. George Scheer - for providing highly efficient technical and research support services to students and faculty; for leading the effort to identify new computer technologies and directions for the evolution of the CSTARS lab; for improving the quality of research done in the lab in a myriad of ways; for substantial effort and success in learning new research software tools; for running the CSTARS lab technical maintenance over the internet from Paris for three months; for eagerly taking on impossible tasks and succeeding with zest. Tania Heta - for eagerly accepting the challenge, taking the courses and additional work to become a proficient LAWR Web coordinator; for continuously researching and using innovative techniques to upgrade the LAWR Web pages; for responsive, positive, client service to faculty, staff and students. Diane G. Swindall - for excellence in student advising, student recruitment, student outreach and faculty advisor support; for leading and coordinating well-planned and fun student-related events throughout the year; for effective and energetic summer advising; for an innovative and improved method of handling and sharing student information; for personal energy and enthusiasm that is infectious. Jiayou Deng - for excellence in field research exemplified by top skills; excellent research results; hard work; notorious "stinginess" resulting in amazing savings; for anticipating problems, creative thinking and attention to detail; for being a master of sample collection, sample processing and data collation; for working on and tracking multiple old and new field projects reliably; for never failing to communicate with two hard-to-find-supervisors; for being unfailingly cheerful and positive about his work and life in general. Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics Pauline Griego, ARE Support Services - for continued helpfulness, dedication and professionalism; responding to faculty work requests with last minute deadlines with a "no problem, we'll get it out for you" attitude Dawn Whitaker, ARE Payroll/Personnel - for tackling a backlog of unresolved employee pay and appointment issues, reorganizing and restructuring the work flow and successfully placing the payroll/personnel processing unit on a timely and nearly error-free status Cathy Pickett, ARE Student Services - for playing a significant role in development of the rapidly expanding major; an enthusiastic and effective promoter of the program Kim Brobeck, ARE Support Services - for creative designs of seminar posters, requiring extra effort to match artistic background topics with seminar subject matter; professional appearing graphics Kathy Edgington, ARE Computer Facility - for continued commitment to the support of graduate student computing needs Department of Pomology Hamid Ahmadi, SRA IV Betty Hess-Pierce, SRA IV Chuck Leslie, SRA IV Lester Hattabaugh, Prin. Ag. Tech. Veronique Bikoba, Lab Assistant Don Edwards, Prin Photographer Pam Moyer, -- Asst II Bob Lemos, Prin Agric Supt Gloria Robles, Admin Specialist Deidra Madderra, Admin Specialist Division of Textiles & Clothing Sandy Brito - for her many and varied contributions to the division DANR Analytical Lab Gary Chan - for creatively utilizing first-rate mechanical and fabrication skills to improve both the laboratory and the office; for saving the laboratory time and money by installing various equipment and quickly fabricating parts - without being asked; for innovative improvements that always work; for eagerly and cheerfully doing the many small projects that make life infinitely better in the lab and office; for taking the extra steps to make sure that all he does is completed correctly, efficiently and with minimum impact to the operation of the laboratory. Claudette Cervinka - for exemplary performance in preparing laboratory result reports under an unusually heavy lab workload (33,000 this year, compared to 15,000 samples last year), for assuming extra administrative duties and training before and after the departure of the lab administrative manager; for consistently high productivity with absolute accuracy, for attention to detail and follow through; for personal dedication, hard work and outstanding client service. David Paige, Ken Shaw and Gerry Weigt, CA&ES North Campus Shop - for working with exceptional efficiency - independently and together - to move from the old shop to a new, smaller shop while they continued to provide client service; for taking on this huge move (inventory, clean out old, redesign new) with good cheer, hard, hard work and creative solutions that resulted in large cost savings to the college; for taking the initiative to create a foundation of good will, practical guidelines and ground rules with the Food Science Shop Team; for helping everyone deal with the site clearance. Deborah Canevari, Gladis Lopez and Cheryl Smith - Center for Ecological Health Research (CEHR) - for consistently flawless, innovative and highly productive administrative and organizational research support to 35 faculty in five colleges, including: budget and detailed QA/QC records; planning and coordinating meetings, conferences and writing reports; facilitating communication and fostering opportunities for investigators to interact and strengthen research partnerships; for being the "glue" that holds this successful interdisciplinary research program together. Angelina Mason and Janet Young, DANR Analytical Laboratory Team - for working together to increase their productivity over 35%; for accomplishing this while learning new equipment software and hardware; for providing amazing 98% accuracy along with cost-effective productivity; for combining their time and efforts to complete most analyses before their due date; for consistently providing an invaluable service to a wide range of clients.

Cecilia E. Murphey ScholarshipThe Cecilia E. Murphey Scholarship is available to students from Sacramento or Yolo Counties who plan to register for the 2000-2001 academic year in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Students must show demonstrated financial need. Scholarships of up to $5,000 will be awarded. New and continuing students are encouraged to apply.

Student Prizes and AwardsThe Dean's Office of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences is accepting nominations for the Howard Walton Clark Prize in Plant Breeding and Soil Building. The $1,000 prize will be awarded to the "senior student in the college whose high scholastic achievement, talent for independent research and other characteristics, with particular reference to either plant breeding or soil building, seem to show the greatest promise." The Charles Hess Community Service Awards were established in honor of the college's former dean, Professor Charles E. Hess. The awards recognize students involved in public/community service activities while in college and, hopefully, encourage them to recognize the value of sharing with others in need. The intent of the awards is to raise the status of volunteerism within the college and university and to encourage recognition of community volunteer efforts as part of career aspirations. An award of $1,000 will be presented to one outstanding male and one outstanding female. Graduates on the September, December, March and June degree lists are eligible. The following are the criteria: (1) graduate with the most noteworthy record of public/community service while at UC Davis; (2) demonstrated expertise and an interest in serving humanity; and (3) volunteer from the college and university and in their community. The Mary Regan Meyer Prize is presented to an outstanding graduate in the college of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences who best meets the following criteria: (1) graduation with an outstanding record; (2) demonstrated expertise and an interest in serving humanity; (3) interest and intention to embark on post-baccalaureate graduate or professional-level education; and (4) broad intellectual interest as indicated both in course work and activities on and off campus. Graduate on the September, December, March and June degree lists are eligible. One $500 award will be presented. Nomination deadline: January 14, 2000

California Sea Grant State Fellow ProgramCalifornia Sea Grant's State Fellow Program provides a unique educational opportunity for graduate students interested both in marine resources and in the policy decisions affecting those resources. The program matches highly motivated and qualified graduate students with "hosts" in the California State Legislature or in state agencies in Sacramento for a nine-month paid fellowship. The fellowship generally begins between January and March to coincide with the legislative cycle. Applicants must be registered graduate students in a marine-related field at a California university at the time of application or have recently completed their degrees. Applicants should demonstrate interest both in marine science and public policy. Application deadline: November 1, 1999

CA&ES Currents, the faculty/staff newsletter of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at UC Davis, is distributed every other Friday. News deadline is noon Monday preceding Friday publication. Send inquiries to Ann Filmer, [email protected]

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The College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences is dedicated to solving real-world problems in the agricultural, environmental, and human sciences to produce a better world, healthier lives, and an improved standard of living for everyone.